Iberis plant named ‘White Heat’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Iberis  plant named ‘White Heat’, characterized by its white-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Iberis amara.

Variety denomination: ‘White Heat’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Iberisplant botanically known as Iberis amara and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘White Heat’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inGuadalupe, Calif. during the summer of 2010. The objective of thebreeding program was the development Iberis cultivars that flowerwithout vernalization and have a long blooming window.

The new Iberis cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female(seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Iberis amarabreeding selection coded NCT-12938-a, not patented, characterized by itswhite-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderatelyvigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent ofthe new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered andselected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the abovestated open-pollination during August 2011 in a controlled environmentin Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceAugust 2011 in Guadalupe, Calif. and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated thatthe new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of thecharacteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘White Heat’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Iberis plant:

-   -   1. White-colored flowers;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in being earlier to flower and in continuing to freely flowereven under high heat conditions.

Of the many commercially available Iberis cultivars, the most similar incomparison to the new cultivar is ‘Masterpiece’, U.S. Plant Pat. No.22,280. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivardiffer from plants of ‘Masterpiece’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller flowers than plants        of ‘Masterpiece’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a more spreading habit than        plants of ‘Masterpiece’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘White Heat’. Theplants were grown in 1.7 gallon containers for approximately 8 weeks ina greenhouse and 9 weeks outdoors in West Chicago, Ill. Plants weregiven two pinches prior to transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘White Heat’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the inflorescences of ‘WhiteHeat’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in July 2015 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable tothose used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in 1.7 galloncontainers for approximately 8 weeks in a greenhouse and 9 weeksoutdoors in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given two pinches prior totransplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 60°F. to 68° F. (15.5° C. to 20° C.) during the day and approximately 55°F. to 60° F. (13° C. to 15.5° C.) during the night. No supplementallighting was provided. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Iberis amara cultivar White Heat.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Iberis amara breeding selection            coded NCT-12938-a, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Unknown.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 12 to 14 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 28 to 35            days.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 12 to 14 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            mounded-spreading.        -   Hardiness.—Perennial to USDA Zone 7a 0° F. (—18° C.).        -   Heat tolerance.—Tolerates temperatures as high as 40° F.            (4.4° C.) in the summer.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 28.0 cm. Width: Approximately 43.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching. Quantity of main branches            per plant: Approximately 9.        -   Branch.—Shape: Ribbed. Strength: Strong. Length:            Approximately 13.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.            Length of central internode: Approximately 7.0 mm. Texture:            Ridged and moderately pubescent. Color of young stems: 146C.            Color of mature stems: 146C tinted with 187A in sun, stems            become woody 199B with age.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 15. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular or obtuse angle to stem.            Shape: Spatulate. Margin: Dentate, ciliate. Apex: Broadly            acute. Base: Attenuate, sessile. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Length of mature leaf: Approximately 3.6 cm. Width of mature            leaf: Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower            surfaces: Glabrous, leathery. Color of upper surface of            young and mature foliage: N137A, venation indistinguishable.            Color of lower surface of young and mature foliage: 137C,            midvein 146D other venation indistinguishable.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘White Heat’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from early spring through early winter.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            5 to 7 days.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Corymb. Quantity per plant:            Approximately 160. Fragrance: Slight. Length or height of            terminal corymb: Approximately 2.3 cm. Width of terminal            corymb: Approximately 2.5 cm. Length or height of axillary            corymb: Approximately 1.5 cm. Width of axillary corymb:            Approximately 2.0 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per            terminal corymb: Approximately 22. Quantity of fully open            flowers per axillary corymb: Approximately 12.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Primary erect, axillary            acute angle to stem. Length of primary: Approximately            1.5 cm. Diameter of primary: Approximately 1.5 mm. Length of            axillary: Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter of axillary:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color:            146B tinted with 187A in sun.-   Flower description:    -   -   Type.—Small, asymmetrical cruciferous flowers with two            larger abaxial pairs of petals and two smaller adaxial            pairs, freely flowering, not persistent, facing outwardly to            upright.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Globose. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Color: Sepal centers of 144A and            margins of NN155D tinted with 86B; petals of NN155D.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Cruciform lobes with claws surrounded by            calyx. Aspect: Facing upward and outward. Length:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Width: Approximately 6.0 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 4. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire. Apex:            Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Length of abaxial lobes:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Width of abaxial lobes: Approximately            3.0 mm. Length of adaxial lobes: Approximately 1.0 mm. Width            of adaxial lobes: Approximately 1.0 mm. Length of claw:            Approximately 1.5 mm. Width of claw: Less than 1.0 mm. Color            of upper surface of all lobes when first and fully open:            NN155D. Color of lower surface of all lobes when first and            fully open: NN155D. Color of upper and lower surfaces of            claw: NN155D with a midvein of 145A.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Cupped. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4, distinct. Shape: Elliptic.            Apex: Obtuse. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner and outer            surfaces: Glabrous. Color of inner and outer surfaces:            Centers of 144B and margins of NN155D tinted with 86B.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to            stem. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter: Less than            1.0 mm. Texture: Adaxial surface densely glandular            pubescent. Color: 146B tinted with 187A in sun.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 6 per            flower. Stamen length: Approximately 2.0 mm, 1 pair slightly            shorter and inserted lower. Filament color: 145C tinted with            187A. Anther shape: Sagittate, dorsifixed. Anther color: 4A.            Pollen amount: Not observed. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1            per flower, ovary superior, flattened orbicular. Pistil            length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Stigma shape: Bifid. Stigma            color: 145A tinted with 187A. Style length: Approximately            1.0 mm. Style color: N144D tinted with 187A. Ovary diameter:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: N144D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Iberis has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Iberis plant named‘White Heat’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.